juvenile probation officer arrested/NC bike chase

[PeteSC]

County juvenile probation officer arrested
Megan Ward
Star Staff Writer

SHELBY — A Cleveland County juvenile probation officer was arrested Saturday night, troopers say, after he led them on a chase on a stolen motorcycle.

John Charles Rice II, 31, was released from the Cleveland County Detention Center later Saturday night on a $10,000 bond.

Rice was arrested on charges of felony possession of a stolen vehicle, careless and reckless driving, felony speeding to elude arrest, resist, obstruct and delaying arrest, 80 mph in a 60 mph zone, fictitious registration plate, expired inspection certificate.

The motorcycle Rice was driving was reported stolen from Raleigh, Highway Patrol Sgt. T.E. Ellis said.

Rice had used tags from a motorcycle he owns, he said.

“From what I’ve heard, this is so out of character for him,” Ellis said about Rice.

Ellis did not know how long Rice has been a probation officer with the county. Probation and parole officials could not be reached for comment Sunday.

Just before 9 p.m., Highway Patrol Trooper J.L. Saucier clocked Rice at 80 mph on U.S. 74 near Kings Mountain, Ellis said.

When Saucier switched on his sirens and lights, Rice accelerated the 1997 Honda CBR motorcycle to more than 100 mph, heading west toward Shelby, Ellis said.

Ellis, aided by Cleveland County Sheriff’s deputies and Shelby police, took over the chase when Rice reached Shelby city limits.

“We laid back off him when he got into heavy traffic,” Ellis said. “But at the light at Wal-Mart and Chick-Fil-A, he got boxed into traffic.”

Rice stopped and officers arrested him there, Ellis said.

Rice initially resisted arrest and was injured when officers handcuffed him, Ellis said.

“We had to forcibly handcuff him,” he said. “He said he was trying to get his motorcycle helmet off.”

Ellis added that Shelby Police officers and sheriff’s deputies assisted in handcuffing Rice.

Ellis said Rice burned his leg on the motorcycle’s exhaust pipe but could not say exactly what damage was done to his arm, which was in a sling when Rice’s mug shot was taken at the jail.

Ellis said Rice’s injuries did not appear to be serious.


  I guess it's just one of the dangers of his profession.....he's been spending too much time with scumbags....and has become one.

     (Or he didn't exactly have much moral strength to start with....)